Welcome to Better Know An Umpire, an effort to educate ourselves on the human elements who have ultimate decision-making power over some 2,500 Major League Baseball games a year. (All cumulative statistics are through the 2011 season, unless otherwise stated.)

Although he may not be consistent, when his numbers are blended together he looks middle-of-the-road. ... The only reason he's listed as a hitters' umpire is because of [his] high R/9. ... He has compiled an ejection rate of just over one percent, less than half the major league norm.

True fact: President Obama stopped by the umpires' locker room before the start of the 2009 All-Star Game and met the crew—except for DeMuth, who could not be found. "Where's Dana? Where's the chief?" Obama asked, to no avail.